Beatles ’74 pt10

Yesterday and Today - A podcast by Wayne Kaminski

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Over four years had passed since the official break-up of the Beatles, and by the tail end of 1974 the world of music was changing, evolving and finding new stars to light the way. But despite these shifts in faces and trends, the Beatles' legend remained surprisingly vital, with not only a slew of successful solo material from the former fabs, but also from tributes such as the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the Road off-broadway musical. Though it was panned by critics, this production tapped into a public yearning for a return of the band that changed everything - and while a formal reunion was never to be, Beatle music was alive and well in the cultural zeitgeist. But nostalgia wasn't the only currency of the day, November 1974 also brought with it Ringo Starr's new album Goodnight Vienna. To follow-up the monster success of 1973's Ringo album, Starr and producer Richard Perry brought in new guest stars and new hooky material in the hopes of repeating their own critical and commercial heights the year prior. John Lennon also returned to lend his friend a helping hand on the title track, as well as lead-off single Only You (an arrangement Lennon and Harry Nilsson had been work-shopping for the ill-fated Oldies But Moldies project). From the Elton John/Bernie Taupin-penned Snookeroo to the novelty No-No Song, Goodnight Vienna was indeed another successful endeavor - though ultimately fell far short of its predecessor. And as 1974 draws to a close, there's still another solo Beatles LP ready for release...


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